Shipping Tips: Don't Leave Holiday Packages Vulnerable at Your Door

Package delivery services are on the rise and UPS expects to deliver 527 million packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.  More and more shoppers are staying at home and purchasing necessary items on the Internet.  Before you ship, think about where you are shipping or when the package will be delivered so your package does not end up in the hands of a thief. The opportunity exists all year for packages to go missing from your doorstep, but during the holidays opportunities increase.  Some of the reasons:

• A package sitting at a front door for several hours or for several days creates an opportunity for crime.
• Shipping company trucks are obvious so deliveries are hard to miss.
• High dollar items like laptops and other electronics are shipped to homes, especially during the holidays.

Here are some tips: 

• Only have a package delivered if you are going to be at home. 
• Consider signing for packages so you know they have arrived.
• If you are expecting a package check for it throughout the day and bring the package inside immediately.
• Check to see if your shipping company has digital alerts.  The alerts tells you of the impending delivery and if that date and time is not convenient, you can reschedule or reroute the package.
• If you are not going to be home or cannot schedule package delivery, have the package delivered to a trusted neighbor’s house or delivered to your work.
• Choose the “pick-up at store” option when available

Also, don’t be scammed. Some postal customers are receiving fake e-mails about a package delivery or online postage charges. The e-mails claim to be from the U.S. Postal Service and contain a link or attachment that when opened, installs a malicious virus on your computer. Don’t open the link! Look for more crime prevention tips on the City of Carlsbad website and let’s work together to prevent crime.  The City of Carlsbad Police Department wishes you a safe and crime-free holiday season.

–City of Carlsbad